Characterization of head and neck pain symptoms of patients presenting to a tertiary care pain clinic

Abstract

Objective: To characterize the presentation and symptomatology of individuals presenting with pain in head and neck regions.

Methods: A retrospective chart-review was performed on patients with pain in the HFN presenting to a tertiary pain center in Turkey between January 2016 and January 2017. Information regarding the characteristics of pain and medical and treatment history were extracted and reviewed.

Results: Among 197 subjects, 135 (68.5%) were females. The average duration of pain was 60.13 ± 92.32 months. The pain was continuous in presentation and severe in intensity in 43.1% and 51.8% of the subjects, respectively. The pain was associated with at least one somatosensory symptom in 12.1% of subjects. Common diagnoses were trigeminal neuralgia, persistent idiopathic facial pain, and migraine headaches.

Conclusion: Painful disorders of the HFN are associated with varying and perplexing signs and symptoms. Such patients should undergo a comprehensive clinical assessment with a multidisciplinary team.

Keywords: Acute pain; chronic pain; facial pain; temporomandibular disorders (TMD); trigeminal nerve; trigeminal neuralgia.